More Adopters Who Abuse & Kill

provided courtesy of Pound Pup Legacy -
poundpuplegacy.org
PoundPupLegacy,org has collected about 4,000 newspaper articles documenting details and sources for each of the 218 cases of abused and murdered ADOPTEES, below, but also foster kids.

Marian and John DiMarias, conservative evangelical Christians, adopted 21 girls from third-world countries. The adopted girls were all impaired; most were deaf. In February, 2003, the State of Vermont learned that John DiMaria had been sexually abusing the older girls for years. He was convicted and jailed by the State. During 1999 - 2003 DiMaria and her husband, John DiMaria, lived in Jericho, VT and operated the Gypsy Grace Ranch, advertised as "North America's Largest Breeder" of Gypsy horses, an expensive English draft horse. The DiMarias moved to Vermont from Kentucky, where they also operated a horse farm. In 2002 and 2003, after the DiMarias had exhausted Marian DiMaria's trust fund of over $7 million, they deceived the Mellon Bank in Pennsylvania, a trustee of the adopted girls' trusts, into sending them $168,000 for fictitious expenses. Further investigation revealed that DiMaria had received and spent $96,000 from one adopted
victim's trust, and had defrauded the Social Security Administration of approximately $13,000, after she learned that her husband had been sexually abusing the children. At least 2 girls were born in China, and Ukraine, at least one girl in India, Russia, Brazil, and Bolivia. (1996 they had 8 from: China, Russia, India, Brazil) - (Olivia, Hannah, Rikki, Tressah, Anya, Elizabeth, + 15 more)

10 foster, 12 adopted and 5 natural children removed from Sherry Scott's home after Oregon Children's Services Division alleges sanitation problems and sexual abuse between children. Carl had left the home the previous fall. Most of the children were physically or mentally disabled. Many of the children were in the home under private arrangements between parents. Sherry also provided temporary respite care.

From 1968 to 1990 the Nasons adopted between 76 and 84 children, most of them having special needs, to form their "Celebration Family" or "Nason Nation". The also had 6 biological children. Eventually they formed their own school "Great Expectations". Allegations involve physical abuse, mental injury, neglect, sexual abuse among siblings, and sexual abuse by Dennis Nason. Three small children died neglected in their beds: Natasha (India or Bangladesh), an infant girl who allegedly died of malnutrition and starvation in March 1988, Jason about 2 and Jodi, about 4, who died of a form of dysentery called shigella in 1985, days apart. Some of the 76 children they adopted have told of being beaten and being shocked with a cattle prod. At least one younger child, was allegedly caged in his beds. A 27-year-old woman adopted when she was 10 said that Dennis Nason, 49, molested her and attempted intercourse, and that she was forced to eat a bar
of soap. She also said she had been hit with a belt during meals for eating too slowly and was hit again when the first beating caused her to urinate. Diane and Dennis found new homes for at least 40 of the 54 children who lived in the Nason home between January and March of 1991 (Among the charges against them is that Dennis and Diane forged documents, medical histories, to get these children placed.) The Nasons were acquitted of abuse charges, but convicted of racketeering and forgery. The children were adopted from Vietnam, India, Korea, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Israel, and the United States

3 year old boy adopted by Tim and Mary Jane King, slain by his adoptive mother, who first claimed he had been kidnapped, later she confessed to killing him. Ahmad had been hit more than 50 times with the pipe and belt buckle. Mrs. King was also charged with abusing Ahmad's foster sister. She was sentenced to life.

3-year-old boy with cerebral palsy and other medical needs, in the custody of the CT Department of Children and Families was killed by his prospective adoptive father, James Curtis, in Florida as punishment for soiling himself. Mr Curtis wrapped Alex tightly in a blanket and left him for 30 minutes. Jennifer Curtis was not charged. The Curtis' were given custody of Alex even though their homestudy and background checks were not complete and would have revealed past violence.

21 days old premature infant shaken to death by adoptive father Bruce Keintz. Alexis was only 5lbs 13 oz and was brought home 2 weeks earlier by Bruce and his wife. Bruce was acquitted of murder and convicted of reckless conduct.

Sent by her adoptive mother to the Attachment Center at Evergreen (ACE), Andrea was put through the usual “two-week intensive,” but then diagnosed as so “damaged” that she had to stay on for periodic treatments at ACE, and live with AT-trained therapeutic foster parents (TFPs), at a cost to the family’s insurance company of $3,500 a week. Supposedly, Andrea made slow progress in the arrangement, until the insurance payments ran out. Whereupon, Watkins and the TFPs began pressuring the adoptive family to allow the TFPs to adopt her — and thereby get new insurance coverage.

One day in November 1990, Andrea returned to her foster home from school and reported to the TFPs that she had been sexually molested at school, which they regarded as typical “Attachment Disorder” behavior — false, manipulative, and attention-getting.

The next day, Andrea took an overdose of aspirin. She was in convulsions and delirious the next morning, but the TFPs did not attend her, and instead went bowling that afternoon. While they were gone, a relative visited the house and found Andrea dead in a hallway.

4-year-old boy, about to be adopted by Larry and Hannah Overton, was forced to drink a mixture of water and Cajun spices as punishment. The Overtons waited nearly three hours before taking the boy to a medical clinic, vomited and drifted in and out of consciousness. He was no longer breathing when he finally arrived there. A day later he died. Mrs. Overton was sentences to life; Mr. Overton is on probation.

At least 2 teen-aged boys brought to Vancouver, WA, from Colombia by Reverend James Mitchell. He promised them U.S. citizenship via adoption and then subjected hem to years of sexual abuse. At least 4 boys lived with Mitchell over the years. Ariel and L.M. have alleged sexual abuse. Ariel was told he was adopted by Mitchell, but was only granted a U.S. visa. It is unclear if the boys were ever legally adopted.

11-year-old boy, one of 5 adopted by a couple from Colorado Springs, was forced to spend days and nights in a small room beneath stairs with only a wool blanket and bucket in which to relieve himself. His parents at one point forced him to wear a dog collar with an electric shock that they would activate.

14-year-old boy was adopted from foster care by Donald Shissler with the intent to sexually abuse him. At least two other boys were also abused by Shissler, who made sexual explicit photos and videos of the boys while engaging in sexual activity. Shissler was a former Episcopalian priest, high school teacher, and foster parent.

4-year-old boy from Taganrog, Rostov, Russia, adopted by Jane and Timothy Cochran. The boy had severe bruising, cuts from head to toe. He'd been beaten by hand and with a wooden spoon and had been cut with scissors. Allegedly he was beaten because he couldn't say his prayers properly. Jane confessed her crimes to her Catholic priest prior to being arrested.

7-year-old Samoan boy adopted together with his 3-year-old from sister by Scott and Catherine Kanani Nelson was malnourished, suffered from frostbite and several other injuries. As a form of punishment he was forced to sleep in his underwear in a shed during subzero temperatures. The boy wanted to return to his home in Samoa.The family had been featured on a Discovery Health Channel's "Adoption Stories" episode from July 4, 2003.

4 year old girl and 5 year old girl adopted by Richard and Christine Dodson were abused by their adopters. The girl's leg and arms were broken and the boy was being starved and beaten. Both children were home-schooled.

Tom Cusick adopted or fostered 28 children, 4 girls and 24 boys. Most of boys were 8 or 9 year old when placed with him. Cusick was unmarried, but had a live-in female companion. At least 5 of the boys accused him of sexually abusing them.

Cusick committed suicide 2 days before the trial was to begin. Cusick claimed to be a famous composer, but apparently his income was only from foster and adoption subsidies.

Between 38 and 56 Melanesian and Micronesian boys and girls were brought to the USA by nobel prize winner D. Carleton Gajdusek, at least one boy claimed to have been sexually abused. Prosecutors said more were abused. Gajdusek claimed the boys were adopted, no records were found. Boys may have come to US on student visas.

Two boys adopted by their aunt and uncle in Blackstock Ontario were found caged. One boy was found in a makeshift cage that was strapped to a wall and padlocked.

They were often tied to their beds, sometimes handcuffed. At one time, one brother was forced to sleep in a bare dog cage. They were kept in diapers because they couldn't get to the washroom, subjected to rectal examinations and often beaten with a variety of household implements. They lived in such fear, court heard, they ate their own feces to hide evidence of accidents and, deprived of water, felt compelled to drink their own urine. ..

15-year-old girl adopted by Lisa M. Iarussi, died of physical abuse at the hands of her adopter. More than 200 injuries covered the mentally disabled 14-year-old girl's body — 82 of them "fresh," and 130 up to two and a half to three weeks old.Older injuries included a healed broken rib, a cauliflower ear from repeated injury, and lips so scarred that the muscles were starting to degenerate.

Four New Jersey boys who had been systematically starved by their adoptive parents, while state child welfare workers, in a bewildering series of errors, failed to make the most basic checks on the children over a dozen years. Bruce(19) was 45 lbs, Keith (14) was 41 lbs, Tyrone (10) was 28lbs, Michael (9) was 23lbs. The boys were also beaten with brooms, rulers, sticks, shoes and belt buckles. Above is a family photo, a close up of Bruce and Bruce 27 months later.

Cameron was adopted from Aktobe, Kazakhstan in April 2001 by Michael & Jodene Van Hyning. Michael was the primary care-giver. One month home, Michael nearly beat 15 month old Cameron to death in several incidents over a two week period. VanHyning is serving a 28-year prison sentence for aggravated domestic battery.

Camryn, the to be adopted child of Edd Keith Morgan and Rochelle Morgan, died Dec 19, after her father slammed her head against a hard surface several times on the night of the 17th or morning of the 18th. Edd plead guilty to a second degree felony. Rochelle was not charged.

5 year old boy, adopted in Vietnam by Jessica Vitale-Elgie and William Elgie. CJ died 10 hours after ingesting a detergent/bleach solution from a bucket soaking his recently soiled underclothes. CJ was developementally delayed and weighed 30lbs. Ms Vitale-Elgie admitted she was disciplining the boy and let him suffer for hours prior to taking him to the hospital. The Elgie's had a 6 yr girl from Korea and twin infant bio sons at the time of CJ's death. Ms Elgie had sought various therapies including attachment therapy for CJ.

Vitale-Elgie pleaded guilty in December 2002 to negligent homicide but later withdrew the plea when faced with a state prison term. In 2004, she was convicted of misdemeanor child endangerment. William Elgie was never charged. Both he and his now ex-wife were ruled neglectful parents during Family Court proceedings.

11 year old girl adopted by her grand parents Charles and Rita Mensinger. After having shot her husband Mensinger fled, bringing Chelsea with her. She later shot Chelsea and herself. Charles Mensinger survived his wife's attack on him.

Police are investigating allegations a serious abuse against a five-year-old boy, known as "Child C", while he was in the care of Haringey. Child C was snatched from his home in Africa and adopted as a "miracle baby" by a follower Gilbert Deya, the evangelist who has been at the centre of investigations into a "miracle baby" child-trafficking scandal, with infants allegedly stolen and passed to infertile women who were then convinced they had conceived through prayer.Once in the UK, the follower adopted the five-year-old, but he was seized by police in 2003 and taken into care where he has passed through six different sets of carers. His sixth, and final, foster carer, who looked after him for 15 months, forged a strong bond with the child, but partly because her north African ethnic background was different to that of the boy, Haringey council opposed her application to adopt him. Instead, social workers fast-tracked his adoption by a
black couple of Caribbean origin instead. Since being placed with the adoptive parents allegations have surfaced that Child C was admitted to intensive care in a coma in 2006. The authorities were alerted when concerns were raised by a consultant child psychiatrist after the boy was taken to hospital. The Guardian quoted a report which said that while in care of an adoptive couple, Child C had his head banged against a wall so hard that he needed hospital treatment. Anonymous complainants suggested that Child C was unhappy and would not eat properly. The adoptive mother complained that he was wrecking her marriage and left him with a social worker, it was claimed, only taking him back when the local authority agreed to pay £26,000 for looking after Child C.

Four children adopted from Guatemala, allegedly abused by their stay at home adoptive father who is the primary caregiver to five children, ages 5 months through 3 1/2 years. Brian was arrested on suspicion of child abuse. The family was also investigated in Aug. 2007 when their newly adopted 9 month baby girl was rushed to the hospital for a head injury just three weeks after being adopted from Guatemala. She had a 106.8-degree temperature and a urinary-tract infection. No charges have been filed in that case. First two adoptions completed early 2006, 3rd adoption July 2007, 4th adoption completed in April 2008. Bio child born Dec 2007. (Their first bio child died 5 days after birth, prior to any adoptions.)

Eight children from foster care were abused by Marjorie; she punched children, hit them with a wooden paddle, locked them outside for hours with no food or water, held their heads under hot water, and threatened them with a gun.

A 4 year-old boy was brought to the hospital at Haute-Loire (France) by his adoptive parents for an injury resulting from falling; but the doctors realized quickly that the injuries were not consistent with a fall. The younger brother of the victim, 18 months-old, was also hospitalized since few days for an injury to his leg. The boys were adopted since May 1, 2008. After having denied any violence, the father admitted that sometime he strikes the children to correct them but he minimizes the brutality of his behaviour saying that it was his way of educating his adoptive son who only speaks an Ehtiopian dialect. The father is imprisoned for aggravated rape, sexual assault and violence on children. The man is known to be impulsive and violent with his wife. His wife is under investigation for "non-denunciation of ill-treatment".

Three children were abused for six years by their adoptive parents, in Becancour Quebec. They have been beaten with fists, feet and with sticks. The children were also subjected to backbreaking works for their age. Parents were sentenced to community service.

Three adopted boys were found severely malnourished, a 5-year-old boy who weighed less than 20 pounds, an 8-year-old who weighed less than 40 pounds and a 7-year-old brother who weighed about 32 pounds when police found. The boys also were treated for bruises, scratches, burns and head lice. The boys told officers they were tied up to be kept from food in the mobile home.

Dr Broeckel Sr. sexually abused at least 4 of his adopted children including some from Mexico. His now ex-wife Julie Barryman was not charged and was unaware of the abuse

Broeckel and his second wife, Julie, had two children of their own, adopted several others, became guardians for others and, over a period of about five years, took in numerous orphans, runaways and abandoned kids. From 15 to 20 children at a given time lived under his roof; so many that the family eventually began traveling around in a remodeled school bus.

Earnest and Windie Perry, adopted six children in total. Five of them were removed from the house after the couple was charged with eight count of aggravated child abuse. Their eldest, Elizabeth Perry, together with her adoptive mother Windie, was also charged with two counts of rape of a child and two counts of aggravated rape.

In November of 1999 the half-naked disabled adoptive son of Emily Miller was found tied to a plastic bucket partially filled with urine. During the examinations, it was revealed two children in the care of Emily Miller had died earlier. First in January 1993, 4-month-old Ieisha Dyson died after being born with a significant birth defect and in April 1995 DuJuan Miller, Emily Miller's 2-year-old adopted son died, supposedly of sudden infant death syndrome.

Three boys and two girls were beaten with sticks, belts, shoes, fists and hammers; burned with a clothes iron, the stove, and a curling iron; bitten; kicked; stabbed with knives, forks and sticks; urinated on; forced to eat their own excrement; forced to drink urine; fed rotting food as well as cat food; forced into the clothes dryer and the dryer turned on; beaten while naked; duct taped to a chair or their beds for days; strangled with a belt; held under water; held over a banister by their feet and dropped; made to drink hot sauce with red hot peppers; made to drink from the toilet; forced to go without food for days; forced to wear urine soaked clothing on their heads; and body slammed, along with other abuses.At least two of the victims also detailed sexual abuses and assaults using a toilet plunger.James was a former lay minister and church trustee

Three boys adopted by an unordained priest from Huntsville Alabama were sexually abused by him. Circuit Judge Karen Hall sentenced Jerry Wayne Love, 51, to 15 years on each of three first-degree sodomy charges. But she followed the prosecutors' recommendation, ordering Love to spend five years on probation and undergo treatment in a sex offender program.

In the 1990s Love and his wife were named as adoptive parents of the year by the Madison County Department of Human of Resources

Five children adopted by the Dollars who starved them, shocked them with electricity, pulled out their toenails with pliers, bound them with chains and strips of plastic and struck their feet with hammers.

A 12-year-old girl who weighed 40 pounds and her 10-year-old brother, who weighed 45 pounds, were found unattended near a church playground in Union County, South Carolina. Both children were adopted from Estonia eight years before.

Liggins' children, ranging in age from 8 to 17, were discovered a month ago at the Nigerian orphanage by an American missionary. The children, some of them suffering from typhoid and malaria, told the missionary they were from Houston and wanted to go home. The church's pastor told two U.S. congressmen and arrangements were made to return them to Texas.

Liggins said her only mistake was trusting her brother-in-law to care for the children in Nigeria. The relative took money she sent for the kids' benefit, causing the children to be kicked out of their boarding school and put in the squalid orphanage, she said.

The children initially were taken to Nigeria in October so she could take a job in Iraq, working for Houston-based Hallilburton subsidiary KBR.

In 2004, the Kelleys were accused of burning, beating, and slapping their five adopted children, 10 to 15 years old. Later investigation cast doubt on whether the evidence would hold up in court, according to prosecutors. In January 2007, Superior Court Judge Mike Wolverton accepted no-contest pleas to greatly reduced charges and released the Kelleys, who had served about 17 months in jail.

George and Shirley Long were accused of standing by while their adopted grandchildren were abused for years.

George Long, the adoptive grandfather, is found guilty of chaining his 10-year-old adopted grandson to a dog run.

Two boys and a girl, all 9 or 10 years old, were sexually abused by their adoptive father, Richard Hill, beginning Jan 2006. He allegedly sexually abused children, including his sisters, since he was a child. His sisters say they objected to the adoptions. Hill was sentenced to 9 years to life. His wife was unaware of the abuse.

Scott Francis, a 41-year-old Northville, MI man, lived with his two adopted children despite a plea agreement that was supposed to stop him from having unsupervised contact with any child, after his previous conviction on two offenses of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The registered sex offender was convicted of violating probation, and also was charged with new counts of sexual assault involving an adopted son. A judge's written order had failed to mention the plea agreement that forbade contact with any child, and a probation officer also admitted to failing to enforce the deal.

Three teen age children adopted from the foster care system were refused food, beaten and made to stand on a milk crate for hours by their adoptive mother. Shirley Allen received on top of her $600 disability income, $1,500 per month in compensation for each of the three children

Teresa and Jay Moody were accused of abusing their adopted children nearly three years ago. A 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were removed from their home in December 2005 and placed in foster care. The couple avoided any jail time, however under the terms of a plea agreement, they were prohibited from being foster parents or providing services to children under 18.

Theresa and Reed Hansen, of Saratoga Springs, Utah had been accused of felony and misdemeanor charges for withholding food, sometimes for days at a time, from two of their three children adopted from Russia, who were of pre-school age at the time. The abused boy and girl were bio siblings adopted 2 years after the first. All three adoptees were removed from the home in 2002 and have reportedly thrived since in new adoptive homes.

11 children adopted by Tom and Debbie Schmitz were abused by their adopters. For years the Schmitzes took in disabled and otherwise troubled children in their home and were part of an under-ground network of people taking in children from disrupted adoptions. As adherents of Attachment Therapy, they beat their children, locked them up in cagelike bunk beds, forcing one child to eat his own vomit; holding another child's head underwater as punishment; sitting on a girl and urinating on her; and hurling a wheelchair-bound girl into a swimming pool; placing a hose in a girl's mouth and turning on the water, and lancing a boil on another child with a box cutter as she screamed in pain; forcing children to dig what they were told were their own graves.

Seven children in the "care" of Tom and Debra Schmitz were illegally placed.

Three year old girl from Tegucigalpa Honduras, adopted by Nancy Jane Montalbano on Oct. 28, 1996. Almost a year later she was beaten to death by Nancy after she knocked over the potty. Christine has 28 blunt force injuries including a lacerated liver and brain hemorrhage. Nancy also had a 4 year old son, Richard, adopted previously from Honduras.At the time of the girl's death, Nancy was living with a common-law husband, who was not charged in the case.

8-year-old Christopher Forder stricken with pneumonia, heavily bruised and nearing death, only to call 911 after he had dies.Kimberly Forder, Christopher's adoptive mother abused and neglected him to the point of death, never seeking outside medical help as his pneumonia grew worse.

8-year-old girl, adopted by Rubin and Bettie Ramirez, was starved, had her arms and legs tied with tape, and was beaten with a cane to the point her brain and skull began bleeding. Her 10 year old sister and 6 year old brother were in the same home. CPS had been contacted numerous times.

At the time 10-year-old girl was sexually abused by her adoptive father, Peter Robertson. Thirty years later she pressed charges. Peter Robertson admitted the abuse and was given a two-year conditional discharge.

July 4, 1997, paramedics went to the North Carolina home of 45 year-old Eddiesenior Jones McLaughlin and found 4-year-old, adoptee, Cory Bradley McLaughlin, severely beaten. He was pronounced brain-dead at the hospital not long before he was taken off life support. Both of his little hands and one foot were burned. There were bruises on his back, stomach, legs, and a lump on his forehead. Mrs. McLaughlin's husband was deployed by the military at the time.

Christopher Allen Tucker and Rebecca Lynn Tucker first adopted Danielle, who at the age of four was pushed down the stairs by her adoptive mother, in their house in Coldwater, Michigan in December 8, 1995. At the time it was ruled an accident. Danielle was born with spina bifida and Down's Syndrome. Despite what had happened, the Tuckers were allowed to adopt two of Danielle's sisters a month after her death. Soon afterwards, the Tuckers moved to Trenton, Utah after complaints had been made about abuse the of Brittany, one of Danielle's sisters. In November 1997 authorities found Brittany, 6-year-old at the time, starving in a locked basement room. The basement room was furnished only with bare metal bedsprings, a wooden spool, and a metal tub containing dirty brown water, which the girl drank from and bathed in. She had been in there for at least 5 months. Rebecca Tucker received a sentence of 5 year imprisonment for the abuse of
Brittany and 8 to 15 years for the killing of Danielle. She is currently imprisoned Michigan. Chris Tucker received a sentence of 1 to 15 year imprisonment. All 3 girls suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome. Two biological boys and the 3rd girl where apparently unhurt.

In October, 1993, Victoria Neal admitted being responsible for the death of Danielle Christine Neal, a 13 month old girl adopted 4 months earlier from Korea. Danielle died Sept 2, 1976 of brain injuries. She had partially healed fractures of her legs, arm and collarbone. A second girl adopted from later Korea was removed from her custody after being admitted to a Toldeo hospital with brain injuries in 1979.Glenn Neal was not charged.

In October 2000, less than four months after arriving in County Armagh, 14-month-old David died in the care of his adoptive parents Gwen and Geoffrey Briggs.

The Assistant State Pathologist for Northern Ireland, Dr Michael Curtis, failed to examine X-rays which showed multiple fractures on David's body when he carried out an initial post-mortem. Later his body was exhumed and a second post-mortem examination revealed 27 partially-healed fractures.

Two weeks after the death of David Briggs, his 14-month old twin brother Samuel was brought to hospital with a fractured skull. Geoffrey Briggs had punched the child for refusing to take some medicine. Unlike his brother Samuel survived the attack.

Geoffrey Briggs received one year imprisonment for the attack on Samuel and was released after six months when he was being attacked by fellow inmates, after which the couple fled to Scotland. For the death of David no-one was ever charged. The Briggs were former overseas missionaries.

The boys were adopted from Romania, where there parents were unaware of their adoption.

1-year-old boy in foster care died of a fatal head injury while in the care of Joleet Poole, who was about to adopt him. Davion was killed during an approved un-supervised visit with Joey.Mr. Poole was a choir director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

8 year old boy adopted by Samuel and Donna Merryman. Died after suffering cardiac arrest brought on by starvation. He weighed 37 pounds, 2 lbs less than his weight at adoption. Both adoptive parents were arrested and charged with manslaughter and first degree child abuse resulting in death and reckless endangerment. He was adopted along with his older brother and 2 older sisters from Ochyor, Perm region, Russia almost 5 years before.

22-month-old girl from China, adopted by Tawainese natives Perry Yu Lin and Dianne Buu Lin, died of blunt-force trauma and had injuries over her entire body. Dianne Buu Lin was sentences to 15 years. Perry Yu Lin was sentenced to one year of felony probation.

20 month girl Adopted from Huangmei, Hubei Province, China by Phillip and Jennifer Alvey, was shaken to death by her adoptive mother 8 months after the adoption. Emma had a skull fracture and died Oct 24, 2005. In September she got 13 stitches from a separate injury. Her mother pleaded guilty. Jennifer was sentenced to 1 year in prison,14 years probation.

2 year old adopted daughter of Ramon Barreto and Janet Lee Killough Barreto, one of seven children adopted from Guatemala by the couple, died Monday, May 19, 2008, at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis. Preliminary autopsy report proved that the child's death was not an accident. Ramone and Janet Barreto were initially charged with two counts of child neglect and with the new information could be charged with a more severe crime. 17-year-old Marainna Torres, daughter of Janet, plead guilty to manslaughter. Pending charges against the parents include culpable negligence in the death of Enna, as well as allegations brought by the Marainna that: Luisa Fernanda Barreto and Juan Fernando Barreto were tied in a baby crib for long periods. Adriana Killough, also known as Adriana Santana Lemar, was caged in a closet for prolonged periods and forced to eat, sleep, urinate and defecate in the cage. (Adriana was the first adopted child
and apparently the adoption was later disrupted).

22-month-old girl from Hunan Province, China, adopted by Sandra Scudder, died of died of brain hemorrhaging due to blunt trauma to the head. Sandra Scudder died of ovarian cancer before she could go to trial.

Steven Sueppel, indicted for embezzling from the bank that he worked for, killed himself, his wife Sheryl, and their four adopted Korean children, Ethan (10), Seth (7), Mira (5), and Eleanor (3),in Iowa City, Iowa. Seth was on the autism spectrum and Eleanor had Polycystic Kidney Disease. Mrs Sueppel and the children were beaten to death with a baseball bat then Steven died in a deliberate car wreck.

2-year old girl adopted by Joe and Violet Ray was rushed to the hospital where she was found to have bleeding of her brain, multiple bruises on her arms, chest, legs, and thighs, as well as vaginal tearing. Several hours later she died. Her death was declared a homicide. Faith was one of 6 adopted children; two from private adoption agencies, four from DCF, including Faith and her 1-year-old bio brother.

4-year-old girl adopted by Joseph and Jessilyn Robinson died of head injury consistent with being shaken violently. Faith and her bio half brother Jacob were apparently adopted together (domestic) while the family lived in Rhode Island.

Seven months after adoption by Swedish citizens, four year old Freddi Bergquist, from Czech Republic died of untreated pneumonia and blood poisoning. His body was covered with bruises and festering wounds.

Girl adopted from Africa along with 4 sisters was tied with a rope during the day and restrained in the basement at night because she lied and urinated on the floor. She was forced to spend the night outside in the cold on at least one occasion for stealing a cookie. She was sexually assaulted by her adoptive brother Ashton Malachi Tyler. Her adoptive sister Nathania Dellare (or Dellrae) Tyler is also accused of restraining her.

She was being adopted by another family when the abuse came to light. It is not clear if the other 4 girls were abused as well. Her birth country is not mentioned, so could be Ethiopia, Liberia, Ghana.

Nine-year-old girl was sexually abused by her adoptive father David Karl Danser. He took sexually explicit photographs of her which he shared with a ring of child pornographers in the Bloomington, Indiana area, further consisting of Pirie Scott Cleveland, Charles Poole and Bill Platz. The arrest of these four eventually lead to the arrest of Eric Franklin Rosser, who became one of ten America's most wanted fugitive criminals.

David Karl Danser was convicted and sentenced to 370 months imprisonment and was ordered to pay his adoptive daughter restitution in the amount of $309,549.36. He currently stays at the Federal Correctional Institute in Petersburg, Virginia and is scheduled for release in 2025.

14-year-old girl adopted by Douglas Allen Houtz and Beth Marie Houtz, was physically abused by her adoptive mother, she was being held under water, beaten her with hangers and kitchen utensils, and was restraint while being punched in the face.

In December 2007, Marie Houtz accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors. She pleaded no contest in exchange for a two-year suspended prison sentence.

After having fought a gay couple from adopting a girl, Earl Kimmerling was later found to have sexually molested her. Kimmerlings were the girls' foster parents who had 50 or more foster children before. Kimmerlings separated after the charges were filed, and the girl remains with Sandi Kimmerling.

Quickly after she was adopted the sexual abuse started. She was 13 years old at the time. A year later she got pregnant and had a baby in 2000. In 2005 she made a report about the sexual abuse she had endured. Smith was arrested in Transylvania County in 2006 and later indicted. In 2008 he got a 124 year sentence.

15-year-old girl is taken in by a man who works for a state agency charged with protecting children. He sexually assaults her on several occasions while she is living with him and his family and, after adopting her, impregnates her when she is 17.

12 year old girl was stripped and tied to a bed with rope for several days. She was beaten with multiple objects, inflicting injuries that covered her entire body. She was locked in a room without food. Eventually she broke out of the house, flagged a motorist who took her to a near by McDonald's restaurant.

5-year-old girl informally adopted by 72 year old man from the USA, living in Thailand. Mother had consented to the arrangement because Vinum was to pay for the girl's education and she was to be allowed contact. The girl had been in his care for 2 months during which he sexually abused her. Mr. Vinum had lived in Thailand for 20 years.

11-year-old girl was found, her body covered with welts and bruises and she appeared malnourished. Maria Quintanilla Cuadra and her boyfriend, Jose Esteban Guevara were charged. They had subjected the girl to malnourishment and repeated, daily beatings. The girl also was forced to hold heavy objects over her head for extended periods, and Guevara forced her to eat jalape√Īos without water, police said. Cuadra, the girl's aunt, adopted the child after both of her parents died.

6 year old adoptive daughter of former NFL player Rich Tylski and his wife was brought to the hospital with a broken femur. Doctors concluded the girl was abused and the Tylski's admitted to spanking the girl with a belt, slamming her head on a table and other abuse that left the girl with broken bones in her hands and leg.

7 year girl from Ukraine was brought to the US to be adopted by Delaware man in 1999 after her foster family in Ukraine agreed to the move. He abused her sexually for six years. In 2005 the girl's former Ukrainian foster family visited and the girl told about the abuse. Karpov, a Ukrainian native, fled and was eventually found in 2007 by Mantega, CA, police. He is charged with 50 counts of first-degree rape and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child

This was an informal foster or adoption arrangement, and likely there was no homestudy,etc.

5-year-old girl to be adopted by Ernest Richard Davison and Cynthia Joan Davison, had been bound at her wrists and ankles for a considerable time and was suffering from malnourishment. She has Down's Syndrome. There were 3 other special needs adopted and foster children in the home.

Eugene Richard Putnam admitted he sexually molested four adopted daughters. Putnam also beat three of his adopted children with a plastic or rubber device.He also faces four counts of child abuse, one count of child neglect and one count of committing a lewd act with a child. Putnam’s charges were filed in March 2007, following a multijurisdictional investigation of the girls’ allegations of molestation and abuse. Mrs Putnam was charged with abuse and neglect.

Three girl adopted from foster care by Gary Patrick McCoy were sexually abused by him. McCoy had adopted seven children. McCoy received three sentences between 17 year and 5 and months and 35 years and is currently incarcerated at Earnest C. Brooks Correctional Facility. McCoy had once received the foster parent of the year award.

The same day he resigned amid a criminal investigation into whether he sexually abused two of his adopted daughters and a nanny, St Petersburg, Fl, City Councilman, John Bryan committed suicide. The Byrans were separated and considering divorce when he killed himself. There had been rumors for 20 years of sexual indiscretions and pedophilia.

John Henry Thomas was accused of raping one of the older girls and physically abusing the others beginning in 2003. His wife, Carol Ann, was charged with failing to protect the children from her husband. Court documents state that one of the six children reported she was punched in the stomach until she vomited. Others said they were beaten with a tree limb, a cast-iron frying pan and a table leg, documents state. In other instances, one child said she was forced to stand barefoot on a hot radiator, and another child was forced to drink the Thomases' urine, according to police, who said John Thomas also sexually abused a teenage daughter. The children also said they were forced to go without food and sit and watch others eat for days and forced to hit other children in the household, according to police. Some of the children had scars from the incidents, police said.

John Henry Thomas pleaded no contest to sexual assault and unlawful contact with minors - his adopted children. Carol Thomas pleaded no contest to charges she failed to protect the children from her husband.

Two girls under fourteen were sexually abused by their adoptive father who filmed the assault. The Rodenas had seven children, two of whom were adopted. Mr. Rodenas computer also included photos of abuse of a 7-year-old girl believed to be a relative in Guatemala.

Adoptive parents were found guilty of abusing 2 Russian children they adopted in Voronezh, on the plane ride on the way home from Moscow. The girls were returned to live with Karen and Richard Thorne of Phoenix. The Queens Family Court Judge ordered that the Thornes would be subject to unannounced visits by Arizona Child Welfare authorities and undergo psychological evaluation as a condition of regaining custody.

Patricia Harris, 54 year-old woman, pleaded guilty to second-degree sodomy and first-degree sexual abuse of her three children ages 5, 6, and 8 whom she adopted in April 2006 after serving as their foster parent.

Grace Bogey, who was born with spina bifida and was paralyzed from the waist down, died on Sept. 2, 2000. Autopsy results showed she died from head injuries resulting from abuse. Her adoptive mother Veronica Bogey, and grandfather Terry Bogey are charged.

Gus, 7 month old boy adopted from Guatemala by Steven D. Showcatally and Gail Hunt was dropped to the floor by his adoptive father and died three hours later. Gustavo was adopted 4 months earlier in Nov. Father is serving 12.5 years. Parents attempted to complete a pending adoption in India shortly after Gustavo's death.

On September 2005, Haleigh Poutre, was hospitalized with severe brain injuries after she was allegedly beaten into a coma by Jason Strickland and Holli Strickland, her step father and maternal aunt respectively, who had legally adopted her. Defying all odds, the brain-damaged girl who was days away from a state order to remove her from life support in 2006, started communicating about the horrific abuse that nearly killed her.

7-year-old girl, adopted by Debra Liberman and Dan Liberman was severely abused by her adoptive mother. She had bleach poured her back, was beaten her with a dog chain, had cat food and salt forced down her throat and was locked in a coal cellar, and then a closet.

Two 11-year-old girls adopted from China were stabbed by their adoptive mother, Sylvia Sieferman. Hannah was adopted in March 1999 (2.5 yrs) in Nanning; Linnea in Sept 2003 (6 yrs). Sylvia Sieferman, was charged with second-degree attempted murder and first-degree attempted murder. She was hospitalized 2 months prior to the event because of her fears she would hurt herself or the girls.

Four children adopted by Kathleen and Timothy Carroll die under suspicious circumstances.

Chronology

1991 Anne Marie, 19, placed with the Carrolls in 1985. She attempts to burn family home in Madison Twp. and and subsequently placed in custody of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. She claims most of the care for 10 children in the house hold lies on her shoulders and her biological brother James.

Sept. 21, 1992, the first death: Hannah, 6, a Down syndrome child, dies. Parents say she was "doing fine" after household bleach was spilled on her three days earlier, but evidence showed the child suffered horribly, with chemical burns inside her lungs and over nearly one-third of her body. Until this incident, Greene County Children Services is unaware of the family, which had 10 adopted children, all with physical, mental or emotional problems. Originally from Massachusetts, they moved to Madison Twp. in 1990, and then to Cedarville two months before Hannah died. The agency's attempt to get emergency custody of the remaining children is denied.

October-December 1992, three more deaths: A 1-month-old child, Chloe, who was born with only a brain stem and no brain, dies Oct. 19 in the care of the Columbus adoption agency that had placed her with the Carrolls. On Nov. 15, Noah, 3, a "crack" baby who suffered brain damage and seizures, dies. Officials express extreme concern after Mollie, a 3-year-old with mental retardation and severe allergies, appears to have been dead for 12 hours before she was found Dec. 9. County Juvenile Judge Robert A. Hagler removes the remaining children from the home, but returns them two days before Christmas.

January 1993, a guilty plea: Kathleen and Timothy Carroll, originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, plead guilty to child neglect charges in Hannah's death, admitting they should have sought medical treatment for her burns. They are placed on five years' probation and they agree to adopt no more children without prior court consent.

June 1993, the fifth death: After several months of little activity in the case, Josiah, a 12-year-old with cerebral palsy, dies. Again, officials become alarmed and ask for removal of the remaining children, but the request is denied.

July 1993, the inquest: The county's first inquest in a decade produces inconsistencies between experts' testimony and family members' stories about the deaths, and Judge Hagler removes himself from the case, citing innuendos about his objectivity.

August 1993, the charge and the removal: The family's eldest son, James, then 17, is charged with delinquency by reason of involuntary manslaughter because he was supervising Hannah at the time of the injury that caused her death. The new judge in the case, Richard T. Cole, orders Samuel, then 5, and Isaiah, then 11, removed from the Carroll home and placed in foster care.

October 1993, the exhumations: Despite the Carrolls' protests, the bodies of Mollie and Josiah are exhumed from their Preble County graves to allow further investigation of their deaths.

November 1993, the trial: After a three-day trial, Cole acquits James of all charges. The family then spends several days trying to convince Cole to return Samuel and Isaiah to the home.

December 1993, the custody ruling: In a harshly worded decision, Cole tells the Carrolls that their two handicapped children will stay in foster care at least for a while because the Carrolls have no plan to care for them and have refused outside help.

April 1994, the battle resumes: The Carrolls again argue to get their children back, and they also ask that their probation be lifted. They're denied on both counts.

May 1994, home visits begin: Previously visiting Samuel and Isaiah at the Children Services Board's office, the Carrolls are elated to have their children come to their home for visits.

June 1994, a new accusation: Officials file for permanent custody of Samuel and Isaiah and ask that James be kept separate from them. Prosecutors say Isaiah, who cannot speak, implicated James in Josiah's death. After a lengthy custody hearing, Cole rules that home visits can resume as long as James is not present.

November 1994, in court again: Questions linger about the deaths. Meanwhile, officials try to get permanent custody of Samuel and Isaiah, saying that the Carrolls, even after more than a year of working with Children Services, still fail to acknowledge how much care the youngsters need. The Carrolls say, however, that they're determined to demonstrate that the children would do best living with them.

May 1995, Samuel and Isaiah return to the Carrolls

October 1997 Carrolls regained the right to home school Samuel and Isaiah

Despite being called a homicide, no one was ever charged in the case of Noah.

Almost 5 year old girl adopted from Colombia by Jack Francis Riggs and Beth Michelle Riggs, died after being forced to ingest salt as a punishment for sneaking sugar. Riggs also had 4 bio sons aged 7 to 13,

On 4 September 2007, Hei Min Chung, a 13-month-old girl in process of being adopted by Rebecca Kyrie and her husband, David Kyrie, was killed in a fit of rage by her adoptive mother. Hei Min Chung who arrived in the US in June, was called Chaeli by the Kyrie family.

Helen Gillin, the 25 year old, mentally retarded, adopted daughter of James and Roberta Gillin, was stomped to death and her body was burned in a backyard fire pit in 1992.

Roberta Gillin made her adopted daughter drink a mixture of bleach and heart medication after finding out her husband was having sex with Helen.When Helen started to vomit, James stomped her to death. The couple dumped the body into a fire pit in the back yard of their Bear Rocks home, about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh. The body was then doused with gasoline and set on fire.

9 months old boy adopted by Lillie May Caldwell Gasaway was beaten to death by her, two more adopted children were assaulted. Salient detail: she adopted a fourth child while awaiting trial on the murder charge.

53-year-old UAE national A.S. was yesterday sentenced to eight years in jail for molesting his illegally adopted minor daughter repeatedly and for misrepresentation of facts to obtain her birth certificate. His wife, M.K., 30, was awarded a three-year jail term for helping him to obtain the certificate. A.S. said "I am a God-fearing Muslim and a haj" The child's Iranian biological mother, M.A., 30, and an Emirati housewife, M.B., 30, who mediated between the couple and the Iranian, were sentenced to five years in jail followed by deportation for helping A.S. to get the birth certificate.

21 months old boy, adopted by Brian Dale Dykstra and Lisa Dykstra, died of head injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, as well as bruising on his torso and legs. On August 7, 2008 Brian Dale Dykstra, 31,was charged with 2nd degree murder.

Isaac was adopted from Krasnoyarsk, Russia and had lived with the Dykstra's for three months.

As the youngest of two children adopted by Audrey Chatmon, Jada D. was repeatedly submerged in scalding water, causing second- and third-degree burns. She was also hit with a belt, pulled her hair, hit in the face and body, scratched and burned her with fire. Her older sister was Faith D.

Audrey Chatmon was arrested in 2004, convicted of child abuse and sentenced to 15 years in state prison.

In August of 1974 Sparks Police were called to Saint Mary’s Hospital on a report of a 3 year old dying from injuries sustained during a fall. An investigation at the time concluded that there was no foul play involving the death of the child, James "J.W." Bader.

31-years later Sparks Police Detectives received a phone call from J.W.'s older sister, Julie Dunn, saying he had been abused by his adoptive mother Catherine Bader. Father Larry Bader (dec'd) was not implicated or charged. Dunn, who was a teen at the time, said she witnessed her mother repeatedly kick and punch the developmentally disabled boy in the stomach, including the day he died, that she slammed toilet seats on his genitals, held his hands in boiling water, held his head underwater in the bathtub and rammed his head into a backyard post. The 1974 case was reopened in 2006 and investigated by detectives. Through forensic evidence it was determined that James Bader had been beaten until his intestines burst.

Catherine was remarried and known as Catherine Wyman or Catherine Bader-Wyman

Three girls, 7, 9(Jasmine) and 11(Minnet) were adopted by Renee Bowman. The seven-year-old girl, was severely abused and neglected, had open sores and lesions on her buttocks and lower thighs, marks on her neck made by a cord, rope or other item and bruises on her hands and lips. She was found by authorities after having managed to break out of the house where she was locked up. Upon investigation of the abuse case, police found the remains of the two other girls in a basement freezer, where they had been for seven months.

As a teenager, Jeannie Warren was under the treatment of Dr Robert Gross for more than a year. During that period, he beat her, threatened her and restrained her with “rage reduction therapy,” an early name for Attachment Therapy. Sessions lasted three to five hours; after a session, she would have swelling, purplish-red welt on her rib cage.

Warren’s early years were allegedly traumatic, including watching her biological mother shoot her father. She was hospitalized after she allegedly sexually abused one adoptive brother, went after another with a hatchet, and carved on her forehead.

Jennifer Haynes was born in India in 1981. At age 8 she was moved to America by her adopter Edward Hancox, who sexually abused her. She moved through almost 50 foster home. Since her naturalization never took place, she was deported in July 2008.

2 year old girl from Moscow, Russia adopted by Glenn Robert Hagmann and Patrice Lynn Hagmann. Her adoptive mother claimed that she accidentally killed Jessica while trying to stop her from having a tantrum. Patrice Hagmann was sentenced to probation and to 2 suspended 5 year terms.

Jessica, adopted in China 6 months earlier, died of a fractured skull in 1993 at 10 months. She had 14 broken bones (hand, wrist, leg, upper arm, collar bone and three ribs) in the 2 months prior to her death. Her adoptive mother Julie McClure was charged with murder and manslaughter. A piece of wallboard from the home had a dent about the size of a baby's head with embedded human hairs. The defense contended that Jessica had brittle bone disease and the skull fracture was caused by a fall when the 10 month girl was standing on a chair. Her body was cremated before tests could be completed; no bone anomalies were noted during the autopsy. Two separate grand juries indicted Julie before a Juvenile Court judge decided the verdict without a trial saying thestate failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that McClure killed Jessica. It is not clear if Jessica was abused, suffered from osteogenesis imperfecta, or if both items played a role
in her death. Adoptive father Jim McClure was not charged.

John Smith, died with 54 bruises, including three adult bite marks, on his body. The boy, was seen with injuries in four of the six months he spent with his prospective adoptive parents Simon and Michelle McWilliam. His penis was cut, his face burnt and his body bruised from head to toe, injuries seen by social workers who never once sought medical help for him.John died on Christmas Eve 1999 from a severe brain haemorrhage, which experts testified was caused by blows normally seen on battered boxers.

Eight year old boy and one of six children adopted by Brian and Edith Beebe. All children were beaten with a rod, locked in a room without food or water and sometimes dragged by their hair. Joseph died, his body covered with bruises from beating with a bamboo rod. The Beebees were adoptive parenst to 6 special needs children, Joseph was one of a set of triplets adopted.

A Detroit foster mother who had adopted a girl and was set to adopt two boys from Pontiac was charged Friday with first-degree felony murder in the beating death of one of the boys about to be adopted. The foster mother, Lynda Carol Baker, was named in a murder warrant issued late Friday by the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. She is charged in the death on Tuesday of Joshua Causey, 4, who had been placed in Baker's care in August.

Kahina, a 4 year-old girl, was tortured by her adoptive parents. The first violence reportedly began almost immediately after her adoption at 3 moths old. Six of her teeth were broken. Grasps of hair were torn and several bones broken. Her mouth and esophagus were ulcerated by ingestion of corrosive product. There is even worse.

Four months after being adopted from China at 10 months old in June 2005, Kaitlyn nearly died of brain injuries and swelling consistent with being shaken and struck in the head. She is now partially paralyzed, deaf and blind. Mother Tracey Ann Brosch plead to a child abuse charge, father Jeffrey Brosch was not charged..

Adopted by her uncle and aunt, Joginder Singh and Darshan Kaur Bains after her mother had died. At age eight sexual abuse started and lasted for over a decade. She was subjected to oral and anal sex, apart from beatings. To prevent pregnancy when she reached puberty, the couple had an IUD inserted. Joginder Singh was a Sikh priestKaramjeet Kaur Singh is known as Vicky Waters since her marriage.

4 year old girl adopted by Brian Christopher and LaRae Marara Sullivan. Claiming to have been ordered by god like a modern day Abraham, Brian Chistopher Sullivan stabbed the girl and his wife with a knife. Both died.

Twenty six month old Kelsey Hyre was permanently paralyzed September 26, 2002. Kelsey and her brother Nathan were adopted from Russia, probably Blagoveshchensk, 8 months earlier when they were 18 and 22 months old. Her spine severed after her adoptive father Gerald Hyre slammed her on the floor. Adoptive mother, Bonnie Hyre, who was at work at the time, took her to hospital when she came home. Ms. Hyre had previously suspected her husband of abusing both Kelsey and her adoptive brother Nathan, 3, and taken photos of other injuries, discussed suspicions with co-workers, but after husband's arrest she destroyed pictures and did nothing. Gerald Hyre was sentenced to 16 years for felonious assault and child abuse. Bonnie Hyre was sentenced to 2 years for permitting child abuse and evidence tampering and served 10 months. Kelsey has been adopted by another couple and is reportedly responding well. Nathan was placed with Bonnie Hyre's mother, but
Bonnie Hyre now has custody.

Between the ages of 6 months and 6 years old she was sexually abused by her adoptive father Luis Ponce, Jr, who filmed the abuse. Almost two decades later, after he was convicted of 16 counts of molestation for abusing two girls under the age of 3, Keri Ponce filed a civil suit against him, which she won. Ponce and his first wife, (Keri's mother), ran a foster-care facility. The mother was not charged.

12-year-old boy died while in the care of Barbara and Fred D. Johnson II, daughter and son-in-law of a couple who had adopted Kevin and in 2000 but passed away a few years later. A weighted helmet, long wooden paddle and severe beatings were used to discipline the boy.

Siblings Keyana and Jasmine were abused by foster mother Dunia Soledad Moreno, who was about to adopt them. When Keyana entered the hospital, large clumps of hair were missing and bruises covered her body. She had five cigar-sized burns. Three months after entering the home, Keyana died of blows to her stomach which ruptured her bowel. Jasmine was placed in a new home. Dunia and foster father Armando Moreno-Garcia parents were convicted of neglect for not seeking medical care over the paninful days it took for Keyana to die. Armando was an uncle of Jasmine and the girls were to be adopted.

Krystal was beaten to death by her adoptive father Donald Lee Tibbets, who was taught to lie across his daughter (who weighed a total of 35 pounds) in what is known in AT circles as “compression therapy,” and punch his fist into her abdomen, which is one technique of “visceral manipulation” (VM), encouraged by attachment therapists. The mother Julia was not charged.

Liam Thompson: age 36 months, of Columbus, Ohio, died from scalding and neglect. His adoptive father, Gary, placed him in a tub of 140 degree water. He recieved 2nd and 3rd degree burns. His LPN adoptive mother, Amy, neglected treatment for 2 days, then treated him with Tylenol and Vaseline. She took Liam to the hospital only after he went into respitory failure. Amy was sentence to 15 years for child endangering and involuntary manslaughter. Gary received 15-life for murder. Liam was adopted from Blagoveshensk, Amur, Russia 5 months prior to his death along with his older bio sister. His sister has a new adoptive home and is doing well. Thompson's also had a 3.5 yr old bio son and a 15 yr old bio daughter of Amy.

4 year old girl adopted by John and Sharon Gill was killed by her adoptive mother. She buried the remains and claimed Lillian, who was autistic was sent to Italy for treatment. 2 years later she was arrested for the killing and yet another 2 years later she told police where to find the body.

Logan Higginbotham of Shelburne, Vermont died of massive head injuries. Adoptive mother Laura Higginbotham, stated that Logan fell and hit her head on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. It took 3 years for the medical examiner to determine whether the case was accidental or homicide. In 2004, Laura Higginbotham pled no contest to a charge of involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year in prison. Logan was adopted from Smolensk, Russia in May 1998 and had been in the US for 7 months. Logan's younger sister Layne was adopted at the same time.

7-year old boy adopted by Joseph and Heather Ciambrone Lucas was diagnosed by Foster Cline (notable attachment disorder clinic whose practitioners vehemently defended the adoptive parents’s treatment of him) died of a head injury, had been starved, bitten, beaten, and forced to sleep in a bathroom stripped of towels, soap, toilet paper and light bulbs. He weighed 27 pounds at time of his death.

Joey, 18 month old boy, adopted from Guatemala, shaken 6 weeks after arriving in his new home by his mother Jennie D. Malak, an LPN. His father, pediatrician Joseph Malak was not charged. The parents are estranged. Joey is now living at home with his adoptive father, where he is still recovering from various physical and neurological injuries.

One-and-a-half-year-old Luke Evans, adopted by Steven and Natalie Fabian Evans, died of massive head injuries, shaken baby syndrome, and poor nutrition. Natalie Fabian Evans, stated that she couldn't wake Luke one morning and so placed him in a tub of water to "stimulate him" where she says he may have bumped his head on the tub. The authorities took a year to investigate the case. On June 30, 2006 Fabian Evans was found not guilty. Luke was adopted from Inozemtsevo, Stavropol, Russia and had been in the US for 6 months prior to his death. Luke had a brother Alec 3, who was adopted at the same time as him.

2-year old Maria Bennett, adopted by Susan Jane Bennett, died from shaken baby syndrome. Susan Jane Bennett, said that she had tripped while carrying Maria and had dropped her. Medical evidence proved otherwise. Susan Bennett pleaded no contest to 1 count of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 3 years in prison. Maria was adopted from Primorye Krai, Russia 9 months prior to her death. Maria's older sister, also from Russia is cared for by Bennett family members

Janet Ostlund was convicted of the second-degree murder of her 2 year old developmentally delayed adopted daughter, from El Salvador. Her now ex-husband David Ostlund was not charged, and has custody of Michael D. Ostund, a bio son born after Maria's death.

Masha Allen was adopted in 1998 at the age of 5 from Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov, Russia into the US by a single male pedophile, Matthew Mancuso. Masha was sexually abused for five years and also became the subject of child pornography. In 2006 she testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committy. In 2008 the news broke that abuse supposedly had again taken place by Faith Allen/Lynn Ginn, the woman who had adopted her immediately after Masha's "rescue" from Mancuso.

Three year old adopted girl allegedly fell down stairs. She died after being taken to hospital the next day. 2 father family consists of Norberto Velasquez and Matthew Arandafell and 3 other adopted children: two 5-year-olds boys and a 3-year-old boy.

21-month-old girl, adopted from China at 9 months by french-born Christophe and Jill Ellen Depaillat, died of fatal injuries. Jill Ellen Depaillat was indicted on charges of malice murder, felony murder and aggravated battery. Jill said she dropped Mia and she fell down the stairs. Mia had injuries consistent with shaken baby, as well as damage to her intestines. A mistrial was declared in her case.

Mia was small (21 lbs) and developmentally delayed at her death. Depaillat had school age children and a 16 month old son who would have been 4 months old when Mia came home.

13 year old girl adopted by Enrique Fabregas, a known drug abuser, who sexually abused her for years. Enrique had been a boyfriend of Monica's bio mother at one time, but was not at the time of the adoption. Fabregas was also foster parent of Ruth and Estera Tamas. Despite numerous complaints over a ten year period no measures were taken. When finally Ruth and Estera filed complaints, they were taken out of the house, but it still took a year and a half before Monica was removed from Fabregas' house.

21-month old boy, adopted from Guatemala by Jeremy and Sarah Allen was shaken to death. Nathaniel had been in the USA 10 months, since April the previous year. Sarah Allen was convicted of manslaughter for shaking Nathaniel. Jeremy Allen was convicted of assult for beating Nathaniel with a wooden spoon two days earlier when he didn't pick up his toys. Allens were considering becoming foster parents for a 2nd child when Nathaniel was killed.

Daniel, a 9 year old boy, adopted from Ramnicu-Sarat, Buzau, Romania, had been sexually abused by his adopter William Delos Peckenpaugh who also video taped the assaults. William "Bill" Peckenpaugh was a nudist and had several articles and websites advocating nudism and children.

Three-month-old boy about to be adopted with his twin brother by David Michael Giddens and his wife Latresa Lynette "Lynn" Giddens (aka Lynn Williams), died shortly after he was struck by his stay-at-home foster dad, David. Giddens had had Multiple Sclerosis and was the primary care-giver. David was sentenced to two life terms. NIcholas' twin brother Gary was also found to have seven fractured ribs, two fractured lower leg bones and a fractured upper leg bone. The 9 year old adopted daughter of David & Lynn reported sexual abuse while she was in temporary foster care. The daughter has special needs, and was expected to be placed with an aunt until Lynn was cleared of any wrongdoing. atresa/Lynn filed for divorce after Nicholas death.

Siblings from Ukraine adopted 5 years prior to the abuse allegations by Georgia couple Earl and Deborah Dinkler. The children had been forced to run 15 laps around the property before breakfast "just about every day" for the last four years. If the parents weren’t satisfied with their children’s speed, they would be punished with a belt, a miniature baseball bat or a bamboo rod. The Dinklers also withheld food and water as punishment.Deborah plead guilty and Earl was convicted of cruelty.

5 year old girl adopted by Gerald and Angela Thompson. She was murdered by Angela Thompson who forced an older sibling to sit on her hunched back for more than three hours, squeezing the life out of her. She was convicted for the abuse of two other children she had adopted. In total the Thompsons adopted 11 children. Thompson told a co-worker "spare the rod, spoil the child". Siblings of Rachel later pressed charges against the adoption agency, which was placed on probation and its founder Audrey Foster has been permanently barred from serving as executive director at any of the agency's five branches around the state. The agency is now run by her daughter Alison Foster,

A three year old boy from Surgut in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug was allegedly grabbed by the throat to keep him quiet and mistreated by his newly adoptive mother in a Moscow Hotel. The American couple had adopted Rashid a few days before and were still in Russia at the time of the event.

For years Ricky had been maltreated and abused by his adopters Tim and Lisa Holland. In July 2005 he was killed by the couple parents and dumped in a swamp, claiming he had disappeared. Eventually Tim Holland led the police to the body on Jan. 27, 2006. Hours later, authorities picked up in connection with Ricky's death. Lisa and Tim Holland are in prison -- she for life and he for 30 to 60 years.

6-year-old Roberta "Berta" Evers, sexually abuesd as a preschooler, adopted by Dennis and Sandy Evers, was restrained in her bed, covered with bruises, when found dead from choking on her own vomit. She was adopted after her 2 bio brothers (of a family of 9) were adopted by Evers.

10 month old boy adopted by Smitha Chakravarthy and her husband. Allegedly the child was beaten to death and bite marks were found all over his body. The family was from India and was visiting in Texas when Rohit died.

Samuel Hudson, 13 years old, was killed on December 2008. Cynthia Hudson, his adoptive mother, is charged with capital murder in his death. Officials said Samuel was restrained and beaten to death with a broom handle, rake, computer cord, and baseball bat. William Hudson has been arrested on a tampering with evidence charge in the death of his adopted son. Children reported being beaten with a fishing rod, a water hose, a metal bat, a paddle andtheir mother'sfist. They were confined to a prayer room at times. The Hudsons are also being investigated for allegedly injuring their other five adopted children. Samuel's natural mother, Rebecca Henson and her husband, are seeking custody of the his two bio siblings, also in the Hudson's family

Eight year old boy, adopted with his siblings Sharnea and Shamale, by Catherine Marie Hudson. Even before their adoption in 1996, when the three children were in Hudson's foster care abuse had been reported. From April 18, 1996, through November 13, 1997, eleven different witnesses filed twenty-six child-abuse reports in writing to the Worcester County Department of Social Services (WCDSS) and to the state's attorney in Worcester County concerning the Hudson children. Reports were filed by schoolteachers, the school nurse, the school therapist, the vice principal, several teacher's aides, and a few summer program workers. All reports were unsubstantiated except two, which "alleged that the previous foster parent and her son were responsible for injuries to the children" (even though the children had already been living with Hudson for two years) In December 1996, WCDSS child protection staff met with the school staff "regarding the
numerous reports of suspected abuse already filed with [the WCDSS] from the Buckingham Elementary School.WCDSS officials told the school staff that they "were overreacting and that [the WCDSS] had seen worse." The staff was intimidated by orders from the WCDSS not to send children to the nurse or counselor unless treatment was needed, "not to do extensive questioning or investigating," "not to question caseworkers as to when they are coming to the school," and "not to make follow-up calls to workers." The WCDSS called the Board of Education, complaining that the school staff was harassing them. The school was "told that burns, cuts, bruises, and open wounds were not enough" to substantiate child abuse.

In January 1998, the WCDSS closed the case. On March 24, 1998, Shamir died "in the Hudson household, a sanctuary arranged, approved and supervised by the state, a place that produced no fewer than two dozen reports of suspected abuse in the past two years."

Nine year old boy adopted by John and Melanie Lowrance, drowned with severe head injury, first ruled as an accident. Weeks later, police learned the adoptive parents took out $650,000 in life insurance policies on their new son. No charges were ever made. He was placed in the Lowrance's as a foster child in Jan 1998. His adoption was finalized Oct 1998

Twelve year old boy murdered by his adoptive father, Luke Williams III, apparently for insurance money. Shawn's cause of death was strangulation, Linda Williams, his mother was beaten to death at the same time. Shawn was an native of El Salvador who was orphaned by the 1978 civil war. He was adopted 2 years prior to his death. The Williams lived in Georgia, but thetrial was held in South Carolina where apparently the crime was commited. Luke Williams is on death row.

Six adopted children from Russia were allegedly physically and mentally abuse. The investigation began when two 19-year-old women claimed their adoptive parents from Burnside Twp, Lapeer County abused them and their four adopted siblings. Authorities say the investigation is in its early stages. This family is alleged to belong to the Truth Fellowship group.

8-year-old Stephanie Ramos, a severely disabled child who died in a filthy foster home died when her foster mother didn't seek medical attention. Then the foster mother dumped her body in the trash to avoid discovery

Date: 2003-07-09

Type of abuse: Non-lethal neglect, Death by unknown cause

Abuser: Foster mother, Undetermined

Placement agency: Variety/Cody Gifford House, by the Association to Benefit Children

4 year old boy adopted by special education teacher and former state social worker Wanda Bennett, who beat the boy regularly with shoes and tied him up with old socks to keep him from eating. The boy weighed 35 pounds when police removed him from the home. At All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, doctors reported finding six recent fractures and cigarette burns on his back. Wanda had 4 adopted children.

21-month-old Tammy Herman was brought into the clinic by her adoptive parents, Donovan and Zaibunisa Herman, after she vomited excessively. There was severe bruising on her body, and closer examination revealed that the child had 12 broken ribs and severe injuries to her brain and liver. Three days later she died.

8-year-old twin girls adopted by Tamika Shuntell Williams, were being beaten, tied to a bedroom door, tied down to a bed, bathed in bleach, burned with cigarettes (AND the lighter), struck with a belt, bitten on the head, and threatened with decapitation if they told anybody about these crimes. they were adopted from foster care Spring 2005.

7-year-old boy adopted by Carole Ann DeLeon was severely dehydrated and weight only 28 pounds at the time of his death. Official cause of death was dehydration. While living in Wyoming Carol Ann DeLeon had three children had already been removed from her home because of child abuse. Tyler and his foster brother told teachers they were abused by DeLeon and her adult daughter Christina Burns-DeLeon. The school called CPS several times.

17-year-old boy adopted by Wilson and Brenda Sullivan, was found caged in a crib and weighing 49 pounds by the Ohio state Department of Children and Families . Wilson Sullivan died in the middle of the trial. Brenda Sullivan got 20 years imprisonment.

6-month-old boy about to be adopted by Leonard and Carissa Columbus. On 11 April 2004, they brought Tyler to the emergency room of Wyandotte Hospital. Four days later later he died from injuries suffered consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome. On Saturday, April 17, Southgate police broke into the Columbus' home and found the couple dead in their garage of carbon monoxide poisoning. The boy and his sister MacKenzie had been placed with the Columbus' by their 19 yo natural mother who needed a break. She was considering allowing their adoption.

David Charles Gilmore sexually abused his 9-year-old adopted daughter. Gilmore and his wife, Karen have four biological children under the age of 10 and three children adopted from Russia. Gilmore was a music teacher and a former Friends (Quaker) youth pastor. Gilmore is serving 30 years.

Viktor Matthey: age 6, of Hunterdon County, New Jersey died of cardiac arrest due to hypothermia after adoptive parents Robert and Brenda Matthey locked him overnight in a damp unheated pump room. Viktor was also severely beaten by his adoptive father. The Matthey's attended a Pentacostal (AG) church and homeschooled their children. Both parents are sentenced to 10 years for confining Viktor to a pump room, 10 years for excessive corporal punishment and 7 years for failing to provide medical care. The sentences run concurrently. Viktor, along with twin bio brothers, was adopted from Blagoschevensk, Amur, Russia 10 months before his death. The twins are now adopted by Robert's mother who has disavowed her son. Both Mattheys were released from jail in Fall 2008.

Billy or Billie Rohrer was a 2.5 year old boy from El Salvador who died from brain hemorrhage 3 months after his adoption. Maryanne "Mimi" Rohrer and her husband prominent politician William Rohrer flew to San Salvador to arrange visa's for 2 unrelated children prior to having fully completed INS paperwork. Miguelito Alvarada (aka Pepe), 2 1/2, and Ana Cecelia, 2, were renamed William 3rd and Laura Lisa. Billy died under suspicious circumstances in 1975. The investigation was delayed and charges were not brought until 12/82 after the statute of limitations expired for manslaughter charged. Mimi was charged with murder. The Jury was hung on the murder charge, but thought they may have convicted on manslaughter, which was not available. Likely no agency was involved, and it is unclear if a homestudy was fully completed, although Rohrer's had been working for 6 months on domestic adoption. Several background checks were missing from the INS
files.

John Krueger, a 53-year-old Bakersfield man is accused of molesting four young boys, all children adopted from an orphanage in Kherson, Ukraine. Three of the boys were his sons, the fourth, an acquaintance.

Two 11-year-olds, adopted by Richard and Gienia Kolenda, died in 2002--nearly five years after their arrival in America--when their adoptive father stabbed them and his wife to death at their home in Westfield, Mass., then fatally shot himself. The Kolenda's were both Polish immigrants, and had financial troubles.

Almost 7 year old newly adopted Yuri was detained in Moscow after flight attendant reported abuse on flight from Altai to Moscow. Eventually acquitted of the charges, adoptive parents Giovanna Pintus and Giovanni Fiori took custody of Yuri and traveled to Italy.

2-year-old boy adpted from Orenburg Russia, died of severe head trauma. Adoptive mother Natalia Higier, stated that he had fallen out of his crib or hit his head on the floor. She later admitted to tossing him into the air and he hit his head on the coffee table. Zachary sustained a bilateral skull fracture, strokes, brain swelling, and detached retinas. Natalia pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail with 18 months balance of sentence suspended for 4 years. The agency failed to note that Natalia Higier, a Latvian native, took out a restraining order against her husband in 1995, but dropped it a day later. Her husband, Louis, had also taken out a restraining order against his wife in the past.

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